Human noroviruses, the leading viral cause of foodborne illness and acute diarrhea around the world, infect cells of the small intestine by piggybacking on a normal cellular process called endocytosis that cells use to acquire materials from their environment. The study found that two compounds present in bile — bile acids and the fat ceramide…

A new study estimates that the Eat-Lancet Commission reference diet — meant to improve both human and planetary health — would be unaffordable for at least 1.58 billion people, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Earlier this year, the EAT-Lancet Commission on Food, Planet, Health published recommendations for a universal diet that addresses both…

Scientists have shown that the biological molecule PD-L1 is a potential target for the treatment of metastasized oral malignant melanoma in dogs. There are a number of cancers that affect dogs, but there are far fewer diagnosis and treatment options for these canine cancers. However, as dogs and humans are both mammals, it is likely…

Insufficient oxygen to an area like the heart or legs, called hypoxia, is a cue to our bodies to make more blood vessels, and scientists have found some unusual partners are key to making that happen. They’ve found that two receptors on the surface of those cells come together then dive inside to enable the…

Scientists have developed a tool for studying the biting behavior of common pathogen-carrying mosquitoes. The tool, which uses an artificial blood meal and a surface that mimics human skin, will provide detailed understanding of blood feeding without using human subjects as bait. It can also fit conveniently into a backpack, allowing the study of mosquitoes…

Researchers have discovered that compounds that activate GABA receptors in the brain can keep rats from self-administering increased levels of nicotine during stressful conditions in an animal model for relapse. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that decreases nerve signaling in the brain. When a person experiences stress, their GABA levels can decrease, causing some neurons…

Damage was found in the part of the mouth affected by the bit in more than 80% of trotters examined after a race. However, such damage is easily overlooked due to being out of sight. A total of 261 randomly chosen horses between 3 and 15 years of age were examined for the purposes of…

Two groups of nerve cells may serve as »on-off switches» for male mating and aggression, suggests a new study in rodents. These neurons appear to send signals between two parts of the brain — the back tip, or posterior, of the amygdala and the hypothalamus — that together regulate emotions including fear, anxiety, and aggression.…

A new study finds that proteins known as linker histones control the complex coiling process that determines whether DNA will wind into long and thin chromosomes, made up of many small loops, or short and thick chromosomes with fewer large loops. Now, new research has identified proteins called linker histones as the factor that controls…

Researchers have discovered a protein that could be key to blocking the most common bacterial cause of human food poisoning in the United States. Chances are, if you’ve eaten undercooked poultry or cross contaminated food by washing raw chicken, you may be familiar with the food-borne pathogen. «Many people that get sick think, ‘oh, that’s…